OSLO: Big companies should report
their impact on the environment in addition to their earnings under a UN plan
to boost economic growth and ease poverty by 2030, according to recommendations
by a panel of world leaders issued on Thursday.

A final draft by a group including
British Prime Minister David Cameron and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, parts of which were leaked to Reuters, says the environment should
be at the core of development plans.

"Without environmental
sustainability, we cannot end poverty; The report, almost 100 pages long, was
due to be released later on Thursday in New York to help the world set targets
for 2030, succeeding the Millennium Development Goals that run to 2015 and
focus on reducing poverty and hunger.

Among recommendations, it says that
large businesses should be obliged to report on their social and environmental
impacts, in addition to their financial accounts. About a quarter of businesses
now make environmental reports, it said.

"We suggest that a mandatory
'comply or explain' regime be phased in for all companies with a market
capitalization above $100 million equivalent," the panel's report said.
panel proposes goals for 2030 such as doubling the share of renewable energy in
consumption, phasing out harmful fossil fuel subsidies and doubling the rate of
improvement in energy efficiency from buildings to transport.

About 13 percent of the world's
primary energy comes from renewables such as hydropower, wood, solar and wind
power, according to the International Energy Agency. The panel said that it was not
presenting a "prescriptive blueprint...The suggested targets are ones for
humanity to aspire to.

For
complete story go to: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Big-firms-should-report-environmental-impact-UN-panel/articleshow/20355928.cms

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Trees also fight climate change, they breathe in Carbon di-oxide and
through the process of photo-synthesis create food for themselves and breathe
out Oxygen.

Plant or gift a tree today:

As
simple as it sounds, planting a tree
makes a difference. A
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What's more, It generates enough oxygen for two human beings for their
lifetimes.Any
which way you look at it. You are cleansing your air and making up for the
carbon that you unintentionally emit.